Oliver Nembhard, the acting chief executive officer of the National Irrigation Commission, (NIC) has died.

Minister with responsibility for water in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr Horace Chang, said Nembhard, died today at hospital from "a serious" respiratory problem.

The NIC falls under the ministry which is located in the Office of the Prime Minister.

"He was sincere, hardworking and honest," Chang said of Nembhard, whom he described as a "known  supporter of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)."

"He was very objective and fair in dealing with the issue of irrigation. He was also deeply committed to providing efficient irrigation system to the entire island and of course, he had a great love for his people in St Elizabeth."

Nembhard, a former chairman of the NIC, was in August appointed interim head following the sacking of Dr Mark Richards.

Nembhard was the campaign director for Dr Christopher Tufton when he won St Elizabeth South Western for the JLP in the 2007 general election.